MS Health Care Practitioner

Job id: 107466

Salary: £44,105 - £61,921 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Business unit: IoPPN

Department: Psychology.

Location: Guy's Campus

Category: Research. 

About Us

This post will be based in the Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, embedded within a team which brings together expertise in long-term condition (LTC) management, implementation, and intervention research. The post is hybrid, with most of the time being home based but possibility for the requirement to join in person in rare instances. The Health Psychology Section has been influential in the evolution of Health Psychology as a discipline in the UK. We are internationally recognised for excellence in research and teaching, including:

·       Fundamental research to establish the psychosocial and neurological processes underlying adaptation to long-term conditions and the experience of symptoms

·       Translational research testing the efficacy and effectiveness of theory-based psychological interventions for people with LTCs

·       Development and evaluation of innovative methods for supporting self-management of health, symptoms, mood and adherence, including digital interventions

·       Delivering two courses; the MSc in Health Psychology and the IAPT LTC top-up training

About the role

The post-holder will be a UK registered Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Health Psychologist or Nurse with relevant experience working with those living with MS or a related condition who is looking for a new and rewarding challenge in clinical research. We are advertising for up to 8-10 part time registered Health Care Practitioners to join the team and will be primarily a remote post so the post-holders can work from home or another work location. A one-year part-time secondment may be possible if your workplace agrees.  The role will be part time at 40-80% FTE. Post-holders may need to attend an initial in person training.

The role is an exciting opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team that includes world experts in managing symptoms in long-term health conditions, health economists, statisticians, implementation scientists and policymakers. The post-holders will join a team of researchers on REFUEL-MS, which is a 5.5-year programme of research jointly funded by the MS Society and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Grant.

REFUEL MS aims to develop, optimise and implement a blended, app-based digital intervention for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue, in the NHS.

We are 2 years into the programme and during this time, we have co-developed the intervention content and designed and built the first version of the app. This has involved reviewing existing evidence-based exercise and behavioural interventions, conducting qualitative interviews with people living with MS (pwMS), carers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs), and collaborating with key stakeholders and diversity consultants to develop a personalised, HCP-supported digital fatigue treatment.

The post-holder be given specialist training to provide support to a caseload of pwMS allocated to use REFUEL-MS through the upcoming randomised control trial beginning in early 2025 through virtual appointments and online support. They will be provided with relevant supervision at King’s College London and professional oversight from our colleagues at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust.

The successful candidate will provide specialist support for pwMS to self-manage their progress through a digital intervention to reduce MS related fatigue.  Intervention will consist of; education on MS related fatigue and exacerbators, and treatment via CBT, exercise or balance programmes.

This is an opportunity to be involved in the exciting digital therapeutics landscape and contributing to preparation for health technology assessment.

You can learn more about our programme and team at www.refuel-ms.com or via our social media (@refuelms on Instagram and @refuel_ms on X).

The post holder will join a team of researchers including a Programme Manager, two postdoctoral Research Associate, a Health Psychologist and Research Assistants. You will also be part of the wider REFUEL-MS team including institutions across the UK, diversity consultants and advocates, and our Patient Advisory Group.

This is a part-time post (40-80% FTE) and is primarily a remote post, however, we are flexible so please do reach out to our Programme Manager with any questions. You will be offered a fixed term contract for one year. We have the right to close the advert earlier than advertised if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Contact details: Harriet Waine. [email protected]

Closing date: 11 March 2025. 

To apply, please click “Apply Now”.